Mandevilla plant named ‘Inmanbepol’

ABSTRACT

A new, and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant named ‘Inmanbepol’, characterized by its upright and vining plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; moderately glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers with yellow orange-colored centers; and relative tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INMANBEPOL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Inmanbepol’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Johannesburg, South Africa and Heidesheim, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching Mandevilla plants that flower freely and have attractive flowers that resist fading and sun scald.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Johannesburg, South Africa in January, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number D11-2142-4, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number D11-2141-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany in June, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany since August, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Inmanbepol’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Inmanbepol’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright and vining plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Moderately glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. White-colored flowers with yellow orange-colored centers.     -   7. Relatively tolerant to low temperatures.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have white-colored flowers         whereas plants of male parent selection have light pink- colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Inmanwhite’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘Inmanwhite’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Mandevilla are broader, shorter         and darker green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Inmanwhite’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of         ‘Inmanwhite’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more low temperature-         tolerant than plants of ‘Inmanwhite’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inmanbepol’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inmanbepol’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 11-cm containers with wooden support frames in a glass-covered greenhouse in Heidesheim, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 40° C. and night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references arc made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘Inmanbepol’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number D11-2142-4.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number D11-2141-1. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 35° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 20 to 25             days at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 35° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 to 30             days at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and vining plant habit;             roughly obovate in overall shape; moderately vigorous growth             habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 41             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 42.2             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 32.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about two primary lateral branches each             with about three secondary lateral branches. Length: About             14.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Internode length: About             2.7 cm. Aspect: Primary lateral branches, about 20° from             vertical; secondary lateral branches, about 20° from primary             branch axis. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy; becoming woody with development. Color,             developing: Close to 143C. Color, developed: Close to 144A;             when woody, close to N199C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 9.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to narrowly ovate to narrowly obovate.         -   Apex.—Short apiculate.         -   Base.—Truncate to obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             moderately coriaceous; moderately glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             moderately coriaceous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker             than 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A.             Full expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between             147A and N189A; venation, close to 143A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to             145B to 145C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm by             2.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary cymes; flowers face outwardly to             upright; freely flowering habit with about two flowers per             inflorescence and about 70 flower buds and open flowers             developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring into the autumn in Germany; plants begin flowering             about ten weeks after propagation.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about             ten days; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 9.7 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Distally, close to 157A;             proximally, close to 145D and at the base, close to 145B.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 7.3 cm. Depth (length): About             5.3 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.4 cm. Tube length: About             4.5 cm. Tube diameter: Proximally, about 4 mm; distally,             about 1.5 cm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl; lower 56% portion of the petals are fused into             a funnelform tube. Petal length: About 8 cm. Petal width:             About 3.1 cm. Petal shape and appearance: Roughly spatulate.             Petal apex: Apiculate. Petal margin: Entire; moderately             undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Petal texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;             slightly glossy. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately velvety. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             velvety. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to             NN155C; fading towards the throat to close to between 145D             and 157A; at the throat, close to 145D. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: Close to NN155C. Petal, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to. NN155C; fading towards the throat to             close to 157B; at the throat, lighter than 145D; venation,             similar to lamina; color does not change with development.             Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155B; fading             towards the throat to close to 157B; venation, similar to             lamina; color does not change with development. Throat:             Close to 17C; distally, close to 7B; proximally, close to             144C; venation, similar to lamina. Tube: Close to between             157A and 160C; proximally, close to 144B; venation, similar             to lamina.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl. Calyx length: About 9 mm. Calyx diameter:             About 5 mm. Sepal length: About 8 mm. Sepal width: About             2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Narrowly             acuminate. Sepal base: Broadly cuneate. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Sepal texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Sepal color:             When developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B;             fading distally to close to 145C. Fully developed, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 145B; fading distally to close to             145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 20° from lateral branch             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color:             Close to between 143B and 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 25° from peduncle axis.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close             to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 151D. Anther             shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther size: About 9 mm by 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 161D. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About 2 cm.             Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Close to 145C.             Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped,             pointed. Stigma color: Close to 146D. Ovary color: Close to             144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Mandevilla     have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about     40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 13. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Inmanbepol’ as illustrated and described. 